Ackerman cuts off J Street

[shira]

<snip>

"After learning of J Street’s current public call for the Obama Administration to not veto a prospective U.N. Security Council resolution that, under the rubric of concern about settlement activity, would effectively and unjustly place the whole responsibility for the current impasse in the peace process on Israel, and -- critically -- would give fresh and powerful impetus to the effort to internationally isolate and delegitimize Israel, I’ve come to the conclusion that J Street is not an organization with which I wish to be associated," Ackerman (D-N.Y.) said in a statement Tuesday.

"The decision to endorse the Palestinian and Arab effort to condemn Israel in the U.N. Security Council is not the choice of a concerned friend trying to help," he said. "It is rather the befuddled choice of an organization so open-minded about what constitutes support for Israel that its brains have fallen out. America really does need a smart, credible, politically active organization that is as aggressively pro-peace as it is pro-Israel. Unfortunately, J Street ain’t it."

<snip>

"We do not 'support' U.N. condemnation of Israel or endorse this resolution," a statement said. "We have urged the United States to consider withholding its veto from a resolution criticizing Israeli settlement activity -- a resolution that closely tracks the policy of the United States under the last eight administrations.

"Second, the resolution expresses support for a two-state solution and stresses the urgency of achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting peace. It calls on both parties to improve the situation on the ground, build confidence, and create conditions necessary for promoting the peace process. The resolution does not, as the Congressman implies, place the ‘whole responsibility for the current impasse in the peace process’ on Israel -- and neither does J Street.

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http://www.jta.org/news/article/2011/01/25/2742706/ackerman-cuts-off-j-street

[Ken Burch]

1. So, the second part of the snip proves that Ackerman is wrong.

And besides, why SHOULD the U.S. AUTOMATICALLY veto any Security Council resolution critical of Israel? It hasn't helped anything for this country to send the message to Bibi and CO. that we'll back them no matter WHAT they do.

[shira]

2. It proves no such thing.

Besides, if the Palestinie Papers are legit then the PA has conceded and legitimized most settlements to Israel in any future peace plan, so this would be a step backwards as it's more hardline and uncompromising than the PLO's official position.

In addition, it sends the wrong message - essentially that Jews are forbidden to build within Israel's capital, Jerusalem, including the Jewish quarter. Arab Israelis can build, Jewish Israelis not so much.

Stinky.